Dishwasher apparatus



Aug. 21, 1962 J. A. McMlLLAN DISHWASHER APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1959ll'ln l JNVEN TOR. JEAN ADAIR McMlLLAN BY W III ATTORNEY receive and.confine silverware, or the like.

. 3,050,073 DISHWASHER APPARATUS Jean A. McMillan, New York, N.Y. (92Meadowbrook Road, Short Hills, NJ.) Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. No.826,862 3 Claims. (Cl. 134-137) This invention, generally, relates todishwasher apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for Washingdishes manually. There has been a long-felt need for a dishwasherapparatus that does not require electric current or extensiveinstallation to operate, and that may be used manually in the home. Pastefforts to provide such apparatus have not been entirely satisfactory inthat such apparatus are structurally complicated, cumbersome tomanipulate and uneconomical to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved dishwasher apparatus for home use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher apparatusthat is both portable and manually operable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a manual dishwasherapparatus capable of operation without requiring a user to come intocontact with the cleansing fluid.

Generally, a dishwasher apparatus constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention is embodied in a unique and novel structuralarrangement of a basket formed of spaced-apart members so that cleansingfluid passes readily therethrough. The arrangement of the basket permitscups, glasses, and the like, to be received therein and gripped toprevent movement that may tend to be caused by the circulating cleansingfluid. A separate receptacle is provided within the basket to Inaddition, a separate container having, generally, the same configurationas the basket, is provided to receive a cleansing fluid into which thebasket, along with dishes to be cleaned, is immersed repeatedly.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing whichdiscloses, by way of example, the principles of the invention and thebest mode which has been contemplated of applying those principles.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing one form of thebasket, the container and a lid;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of oneend of the basket shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial view, in perspective, of one corner of the basketshown in FIGURE 1 with a coil spring to resiliently support the basket;and

FiGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to one form of the invention, for illustrative purposesonly, a basket is formed of a plurality of spaced-apart members 13,preferably aluminum Wire, as illustrated by the numeral 11 in FIGURE 4-.The aluminum wire 11 is coated with a suitable material, such asplastic, rubber, or the like, indicated by the numeral 12 in FIGURE 4.

The members 14 that form the intermediate portions of the bottom areraised arcuately in the center, as indicated by the numeral 15, so thatdishes may be received and gripped therebetween. Two of the members 13,FIGURE 4, are fixedly attached along each side of the arcuate portions15 and are designated by the numerals I6 and 17, respectively. Themembers 16 and 17 prevent dishes inserted between the arcuate portions15 from passing completely through the bottom of the basket.

At one end of the basket 10, provision is made for receiving andgripping glasses 18. Such means is formed of a wire-like member bentupwardly at a point 19' at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with thehorizontal, FIGURE 2. The wire-like member is bowed outwardly at a point20 in an opposite direction from a similar configuration indicated bythe numeral 21 so that a glass inserted over the bowed portions 20 and21 will move the portions 26 and 21 toward each other to effect agripping action against the interior surface of the glass 18.

In the above manner, a glass 18 is gripped and maintained at an angle,as shown in FIGURE 2, so that when immersed in a cleansing fluid theagitated fluid will not form an air pocket beneath the inverted glass.An angle greater than approximately 45 degrees will prevent theformation of an air pocket only upon more severe agitation of thecleansing fluid. Therefore, it is preferred to limit this angle to avalue not greater than 45 degrees.

Similarly, a plurality of cups 22 are supported in an inclined position,as shown in FIGURE 2, by bowed wire-like members 23 which are attachedby any suitable means to the side of the basket 10. Each of the bowedwire-like members 23 is formed by a first bend 24, an outwardly-bowedportion 25, a portion 26 bowed in the opposite direction, and a secondbend 27. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the end 28 of the bowed wire-likemember 23 is inclined at substantially the same angle with thehorizontal as the member that grips each glass 18. By this means, aplurality of cups are received and gripped Within the basket andmaintained at an angle to prevent the formation of air pockets therein.

A suitable receptacle 30 is provided in one corner of the basket 10 toreceive silverware. receptacle 30 is formed to confine the silverware ina vertical position to permit maximum cleansing effect by the cleansingfluid.

The particular receptacle 30 shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing isprovided with a plurality of slots 31, although it is understood thatother configurations of silverware receptacles 30' may be used, ifdesired.

Each of the'bottom members 14 is provided at opposite ends with adepending bend 32 forming feet to support the basket on a surface. Suchfeet are wellknown in the art.

To manipulate the basket 10, two handles 33 and 34 are provided atopposite ends and, preferably, are hinged to permit the handles to bendinwardly for storage purposes. Each handle 33 and 34 is provided with anoutward bend, indicated by the numeral 35. The bend 35 is formed apredetermined distance above the feet 32 so that when the basket 10 islowered into a container 40, the handles 33 and 34 come to bear againstthe rim 41 before the feet 32 strike the bottom of the container.

The container 40, as previously mentioned, is of substantially the sameconfiguration as the basket 10, which permits greater economy in thequantity of cleansing fluid required. Also, having the sides of thecontainer only slightly larger in size than the sides of the basket 10permits the development of a greater amount of agitation in thecleansing fluid as the basket is raised and lowered repeatedly. Awatermark 42 is formed on the inner surface of one side of the container40 to represent an optimum level for the cleansing fluid to be containedtherein. This prevents an excess of cleaning fluid and the resultingoverflow when a basket filled with dishes is immersed in the fluid. Sucha mark 42 may be formed in the side of the container 40 at the time thecontainer is fabricated or, if desired, may be painted or otherwiseapplied subsequently. Moreover, the material of which the container 40is made may be molded rubber, or plastic, or any other suitable materialto form a substantially rigid, leak-proof enclosure.

Preferably, the

. 33 and 34 are completely straight, without bends.

A lid 43 is provided with. an outer perimeter slightly larger than theperimeter of the rim 41 so that the lid 43 will rest on the container40. Rectangular notches 44 and 45 are provided at opposite ends of thelid 43 to permit the lid to be placed on the container 40 when thehandles 33 and 34 are protruding from the container.

If desired, the depending feet 32 may be either replaced or supplementedby one or more coil springs 46, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Such a coilspring 46 is attached at each corner of the basket and providesresilient support for the basket. One end 47 of the spring 46 is loopedaround the member 13 and may, if desired, be secured further, as 'bywelding, crimping, or the like. Such springs are particularly desirablewhen the handles It may be desired in certain instances to mount thesprings 46 permanently on the inside bottom of the container 40, whichmay be done, particularly when the springs 46 are used to supplement thefeet 32. Moreover, other resilient means, such as one or more sponges,may be mounted in the bottom of the container 40.

It is contemplated that the size of the manual dishwasher apparatusdescribed above be sufficiently small so that one person may manipulatethe basket 10 readily without excessive exertion. For example, a size of12 /2 x 14 /2 inches would permit the container 40 to fit in the bottomof most twin sinks found in the home. The height of the container 40should be suflicient to prevent the agitated cleansing fluid fromsplashing out while the basket 10 is raised and lowered repeatedly. Ofcourse, the container 40 'rnay be permanently installed in a recess in akitchen counter, if desired. However, it is a'preferred feature of theinvention that the container 40, as well as the basket 10, be movablereadily. Also,

the dimensions may be other than those mentioned above to acommodate anynumber and/or size of dishes.

In operation, dirty dishes are inserted in the basket 10 preferablyimmediately after use of the dishes, so that the basket 10 may belowered into the cleansing fluid within the container 40 and allowed tostand for a period of time. In this manner, dirty dishes may be removedfrom sight and stored temporarily in a convenient manner. Moreover,dishes will be soaking in the cleansing fluid during this period. l

The cleansing fluid used in the apparatus of the invention may be anythat is available commercially, preferably a relatively strong detergentthat a person normally would not be expected to use on the hands. Also,extremely hot water may be used, since it is unnecessary for the usershands to come into contact therewith.

In most instances, it is contemplated that the soaking of dishes for aperiod of time would be suflicient for cleaning purposes. However, it isexpected also that the cleaning fluid may be agitated by raising andlowering the basket 10 repeatedly to develop a. further cleansingaction.

When it is determined that the dishes are clean, the basket 10 isremoved from the container and placed in a sink for rinsing. However,some detergents available now commercially do not require rinsing and,therefore, this step may be omitted, if desired. In other instances, thecleaned dishes may be rinsed or sprayed with 'hot tap water.

Alternatively, after the basket 10, with the clean dishes, has beenremoved from the container 40, the cleansing fluid may be poured out ofthe container and the containcr refilled with a suitable rinse water.Here, again, very hot water may be used since it is unnecessary for ausers hands to come into contact therewith. The basket and the cleandishes are rinsed by lowering the basket in the rinse water.

Still further, after the dishes have been cleaned and rinsed, thecontainer may be emptied and the basket of clean dishes reinserted forstorage purposes. In this manner, the dishes are handled a minimalnumber of times, and the dishes may be covered until they are needed forfuture use.

It is contemplated that the term dishes refers generally to all utensilsused normally in a kitchen, including pots and pans. Therefore, pots andpans may be cleaned in the same manner as described above.

Obviously, there are many advantages of the apparatus described abovesuch as, for example, ease in manipulation, durability and economy ofmanufacture. Since the size of the apparatus is relatively small itprovides greater convenience for processing a relatively small number ofdishes in a convenient and sanitary manner.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement is simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be devised readily by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

1 claim:

1. Dishwasher apparatus comprising a container having a predeterminedinner configuration and adapted to receive a cleansing fluid, a basketformed of spaced-apart wire members of a configuration to permit saidbasket to fit relatively closely within said container and to permitcleansing fluid to pass readily therethrough, a plurality of dishreceiving means within said basket to maintain dishes in a substantiallyvertical position, first means within said basket to receive cups,second means within said basket to receive glasses, said first'andsecond means each including outwardly extending substantially U-shapedportions to engage and grip the interior of the cups and glasses, eachof said first and second means to receive and grip cups and glassesbeing inclined at an angle with the horizontal so that cups and glasseswill.

tend to inhibit the development of air pockets when said basket israised and immersed repeatedly in cleansing .fluid, receptacle meanswithin said basket to receive and confine silverware, members dependingfrom said hasket to support said basket above a surface, handles on saidbasket by which said basket is raised and lowered in cleansing fluid toaffect a cleansing action, said handles extending above said containerwhen said basket is fully immersed, a lid to cover said container, andsaid lid having cut out portions to fit about said extending handles.

2. Dishwasher apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said membersdepending from said basket to support said basket are formed ofresilient coil springs attached to said wire-like members forming thebottom of the basket.

3. Dishwasher apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said angle withthe horizontal is less than 45 degrees.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS524,621 Tinklepaugh Aug. 14, 1894 729,536 Brown June 2, 1903 823,030Brown June 12, 1906 1,341,960 Meyer June 1, 1920 1,360,977 Rolston Nov.30, 1920 1,507,133 Loeble Sept. 2, 1924 1,521,124 Plasters Dec. 30, 19241,559,695 Hatch Nov. 3, 1925 1,604,608 Ryerson Oct. 26, 1926 1,605,238Jezik Nov. 2, 1926 2,403,526 Harris July 9, 1946 2,803,369 FleetwoodAug. 20, 1957 2,812,098 Escaut Nov. 5, 1957

